Access to Medicinal Cannabis Act 2016

In April 2016 the Victorian Government
passed legislation allowing access to
cannabis products for medicinal use in
exceptional circumstances.

Although medicinal cannabis is not currently available
to those affected by cancer, it is anticipated that they
will be among the next groups to be considered.

What does the new Act mean?

The Access to Medicinal Cannabis Act 2016 governs
the regulation, manufacture, supply, prescription and
administration of medicinal cannabis in Victoria. It
makes the use of medicinal cannabis legal for patients
with specific medical conditions or symptoms, and for
other patients in exceptional circumstances.

When will it start?

The Government is taking a phased approach to
implementation of the medicinal cannabis scheme,
with limited patient access expected to begin in 2017.

Who can use medicinal cannabis?

Children with severe epilepsy will be able to access
legal medicinal cannabis products from early 2017. An Independent Medical Advisory Committee,
appointed by the Minister for Health, will advise on
which groups of patients should be eligible to access
medicinal cannabis products in the future. Other
patients who don’t have one of the recommended
eligible medical conditions will also be able to access
medicinal cannabis in exceptional circumstances.
Exceptional circumstances haven’t been defined yet,
but guidance on this is expected within the next
12 months.

What medicinal cannabis products will
be available?

The Independent Medical Advisory Committee will
also advise on which types of medicinal cannabis
products should be approved. No products that are
designed to be smoked by patients will be approved.

Who can prescribe it?

Doctors need to apply to the Department of Health
and Human Services to be authorised to prescribe
medicinal cannabis to a patient.
Generally only medical specialists will be able to apply,
but they can also ask for other doctors such as
GPs and specialists to prescribe medical cannabis to
their patient.
Any doctor will be able to apply to prescribe to a
patient in exceptional circumstances.